Sign.



moving shapes to be displayed AUNITED i STATES ratented may 3o, 1905.

GFFICE.

SIGN. i

SPECIFICATION formingpartof Letters Patent No. 791,303, datedMayBO, 1905,

i Application iiled March 7,1905. Serial No. 248,897.

,O'rro ARMBRUSTER, citizens of the United` States, residing at Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and. useful Improvement in Signs, of which the following is a speciication.

Our invention relates to a' new and useful improvement in signs, and has for its object toprovide a sign the letters of which are transparent, and behind these transparent letters a revolving` corrugated disk causes fantastic throughthe let: ters.

With these ends in view this inventionconsists in the details of construction and combination of elements/hereinafter set forth and then specically designatedv by the claims.

In order that thoseA skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same, the construction and operation will now be described in detail', referring to the accompanying drawings, `forming a part of this specification, in

'pletter or character and journaled in suitable bearings D, secured to the casing.

- To the forward end ofthe shaft C, just behin'd the front B, is secured a'disk E.. of transparent material-such as glass', celluloid,.or

the like-.Lone or both surfaces of said disk E 4s being roughened -or corrugated, as shown in Fig. 2, and behind the disk E-and in front of lthe bearing D is arranged an opaque parti-4 tion F, said partition being provided with transparent spotsor openings G, and. behind the partition F are arranged lights H, the transparent spots or openings G being arranged in the ,partition F in the same shape as the character or letter in front of the same and in alnement or directly in the rear of said character or letter, .so that when the lights H are lighted and the disk E is station- 'ary the openingsor transparent spots G can .be seen through *the letters and disk, but

when'the disk E is revolved the corrugated, roughened, or prismatic surface upon said disk will provide an opaque illusion, causing moving fantastic shapes to be displayed through the letters, thus attracting attention to the sign. Of course by varying the corrugations or treating 'the surface of the diskl in Y a diiferent mannerdilerent effects can be produced and by coloring the openings or spots G of the opaque partition F different color eiiects can be produced'.

In Fig. 1' we have shown a portion of the disk E colored, as represented atE. This portion E of the disk is colored darker than the balance of the disk, and, in fact, this portion or'other portions of the disk could be made opaque; but we have found that it is preferable to make these colored portions only semitransparent, and as the disk revolves these portions E will produce an edect likea tractive in appearance. v Of course it is understood that the rear portion of the sign can be lighted in any suitable .mannen and a reflector could be used, if so desired, or the sign could be made double, so as to be read from both sides, with the lights in. the center, and the shafts C can be driven in anysuitable manner, either by clockwork, electric motor,l or any other source of power desired, andthe different shafts of the different characters or letters could be connected together by' gearing, chains, belts, or any other device. In the drawings we have shown a double pulley I located upon each shaft, so that the movement could be transmitted from one-to the other by means of belts".

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new and useful ist- 1. In a sign, a casing, transparent letters or 4flash-,sign and make the 'same still more atened or treated in any other similangzanner,

, an opaque partition arranged behind the disks, said partition provided with transparent spots or openings directly behind the letters or characters and arranged in the same shape as the letters or characters, and lights arranged behind the opaque partition, as and for the purpose specified.

2, In a sign, a casing, the front of the casing being of glass or other transparent material, said glass being treated or'covered so as to be opaque except where the letters or characters occur, disks arranged directlybehind the front, one disk for each letter or character,

a shaft journaled in suitable bearings, to the forward end of which is secured the disk, means for revolving the shafts from a suitable source of power, the surface of said disks being prismatic or corrugated, an opaque partitionarranged behind the disks, said opaque partition provided with transparent spots or openings arranged in the same shape and in alinement with the letters or characters, portions of the surface of the disks being darkened or colored, and lights arranged behind the opaque partition, as and for the purpose specified. l l

`In testimony whereof we have hereunto afxed our signatures in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ULYSSES B. STUART. OTTO ARMBRUSTER. Witnesses: i,

CHAs. H. DOUGHERTY, FRANK OLrvER. 

